The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
Pentagon says US to deploy guided missile submarine, strike group to Middle East
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region, the Pentagon says, taking the rare step of announcing the movements of a submarine.
In a statement, the Pentagon adds that Austin has also ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.
Elon Musk’s X the easiest platform to find Hamas content, anti-terror tech group said to warn
A tech industry counter-terrorism organization that also fights antisemitism is concerned over content posted on Elon Musk’s X on behalf of the Hamas terror group, and is worried about the social media platform’s membership on its board, The Sunday Times reports.
Members of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) believe the group’s credibility is undermined by X’s membership and position on the board, according to The Sunday Times.
The report says X, formerly Twitter, is now the platform where it is the easiest to find Hamas videos, citing reduced content moderation and other changes introduced by Musk.
IDF says 30 rockets launched, no casualties; Hezbollah claims responsibility
The IDF says around 30 projectiles were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel in the nighttime volley.
Several of them landed in open areas and there are no casualties, the army says, adding that it is striking the area from where the rockets were fired.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah claims responsibility for the barrage, claiming to target a military base, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen site.
Over 10 rockets said fired at north; some downed, some impact and cause fires but not injuries
Reports indicate over 10 projectiles were fired toward the Western Galilee in the latest barrage, with some intercepted and some falling in open areas.
The reports say there have been no casualties.
Fires have broken out, however, near Moshav Avdon, according to Ynet.
You could hear the rocket interceptions from Haifa. Listen to my video below. pic.twitter.com/qPPwGJfgQh
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) August 11, 2024
מטח לילי לצפון. בתיעוד: כך נראות נפילות בשטחים פתוחים מול המצלמה pic.twitter.com/naQwPkCpXJ
— Itsik Zuarets איציק זוארץ (@Itsik_zuarets) August 11, 2024
Incoming rocket sirens sound in Nahariya, surrounding communities
Nighttime rocket alarms sound in the northern city of Nahariya and in nearby towns.
There are no immediate reports of impacts or injuries.
Report: Gallant told Pentagon chief large-scale attack expected from Iran
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke today with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and told him Iran’s military preparations suggest Iran is getting ready for a large-scale attack on Israel, Axios reporter Barak Ravid says on X, citing a source with knowledge of the call.
The Kan public broadcaster and Channel 13 news similarly say Israel’s updated assessment is that Tehran intends to launch a major attack this week.
Kan assesses that the attack will be bigger in scale than its drone and missile attack in April, without citing sources.
Channel 13 reports, also without citing sources, that there could be a combined attack by both Iran and Hezbollah, whether simultaneously or successively. The network says one factor that has delayed the promised response to the assassinations of terror chiefs is French pressure on Iran and Hezbollah not to launch a major attack during the Paris Olympics, which ended several hours ago.
Borrell says EU must mull sanctions on Ben Gvir, Smotrich for ‘incitement to war crimes’
The European Union foreign policy chief says the bloc should consider sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for comments he says constitute “incitement to war crimes.”
Writing on X, Josep Borrell condemns Ben Gvir for once again urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut all aid and fuel to the Gaza Strip.
He also slams Smotrich’s “sinister statements” and says he supports UN rights chief Volker Turk in his condemnations — appearing to refer to the finance minister’s recent remark that starving 2 million Gazans in order to get the Hamas hostages back might be “justified and moral,” which Turk condemned.
“Sanctions must be on our EU agenda,” Borrell writes.
“I urge the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes,” he says, adding that Jerusalem must show “good faith” in talks for a ceasefire and hostage deal.